Refuse-discharge mechanism



' 1,624,661 R. A. FORESMAN REFUSE DISCHARGE MECHANI SM April 12, 1927.

Filed Nov. 7. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3/1. fbREsz g/nv ENTOR' I 1 BY ATTORNEY April 12, 1927. 1,624,661

R. A. FORES MAN REFUSE DISCHARGE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 7. 1 2 a'sheets-sheet 2 33 A I J 19 20 x 15 16 A 55 /Y\ 5 Ca w INVENTOR ATTORNEY il 12 1927. Apr R. A. FORESMAN REFUSE DISCHARGE MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov.

RAFZHE'SMN INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12,1927.

.UNITED- STATES nosnn'r A. ronnsman, or moons, PENNSYLVANIA, Assmnon T0 wns'rmenousn nnnc'rmc a manurac'runmeeomramr, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

REFUSE-DISCHARGE MECHANISM.

/This invention relates to refuse discharge rogressive feed furnaces and has for anobJect te provide a device of the character designated which shall have a relatively deep refuse pit in which means shall be employed for maintaining the refuse in the upper portion of the pit in an open and porous condition, such as to permit a uniform distribution of air therethrough and a higher rate of combustion of the unburned fuel present in the refuse than has hereto-' fore been possible. A'further object of my invention is to provide, ina device of the character designated, means forpreventing the formation in the pit of large clinker masses, and for breaking up any such masses that may start to form therein. It is a further object of ,my invention to render the refuse friable prior to its delivery to the grinder mechanism and to provide means for'directing the friable refuse onto the grinder roll. A still further object of my a invention consists in the provision of laterally disposed roller bearings upon which the grinder roll is rotatably supported, this arrangement permitting the employment of a grinder roll of uniform diameter throughout its length and an'unobstructed delivery of the refuse onto and the discharge of the refuse from the grinder roll.

The term refuse in the specification and claims of this application is employed in a generic sense to include the fueland solid products of' combustion discharged from the active grate surface, which consists largely of ash having a considerable amount of unburned carbon, and also to include the ash discharged from the furnace which normally contains but a small percent of combustible matter.

Apparatus employed for the removal of refuse from mechanically operated furnaces in steam'power plants of central power stations is subjected to severe operating conditions which render the satisfactory working of the refuse discharge apparatus, as heretofore constructed, extremely difiicult. The high furnace temperatures normally maintained and the relatively low fusibility of the refuse of fuels commonly used tend to produce large masses of clmkers over and in the refuse pit, which clinker masses prevent the uniform distribution of air through the refuse and complete combustion of the unburned fuel therein, as well as add Application filed November 7, 1921. Serial No. 513,500.

' upon which bearings and supports the refuse has a tendency to lodge in such manner as to bridge, at times, the refuse pit and materially to interfere with the operation of the grinder mechanism.

The purposeof the present invention is to overcome these and, other difliculties encountered in the operation of apparatus of this character. and to this end I have devised a refuse discharge apparatus for use witlf mechanical stokers in which means is provided for the movement of the refuse fromthe active grate surface, as for example, from an under'feed stoker, to a' relatively deep refuse pit located at the rear of the active grate surface and extending substan tially the full width of the active furnace grate,

Air for supporting combustion is supplied to the refuse in the upperor combustion combustion zone being determined by streams of cooling fluid, as for example, water orsteam, which are directed across the refuse pit. Means are also provided imzone of the refuse pit, the lower limit of the mediately. below the zone of combustion for agitating the burning refuse in the combustion zone. This arrangement of the upper portion of the clinker pit constitutes an important feature of my invention. An adequate supply of air foncomplete combustion of the unburned portion of the refuse is pro vided. The agitating mechanism serves to maintain the refuse in the combustion zone of.the facilitating the even distribution of air and tending to eliminate the formation of clinker masses. The streams of water, which is preferably used as acooling fluid, impinge against the heated refuse, evaporating the water input to form steam, the remaining water mingling with the cooled ash in the lower portion of the 'pitn'The steam formed upon contact of the water it in a loose and open condition,

with"the' heated refuse passes upwardly.

oxygen. The hydrogenv and oxygen unite either with each other, or with the air and,

tion. The steam, mingling in its upward passa e with the burning refuse in the combustion zone, renders the refuse more friable and less adhesive, and thus cooperates with the mechanical agitation of the refuse to prevent clinker formation in the combustion zone of the pit.

.The quenched refuse, upon passing downwardly below the zone of the combustion, is directed onto a clinker grinder roll. The roll, which extends the full width of the furnace, is of uniform diameter throughout its active grinding length and is supported at a number of intermediate points by a plurality of sets of roller bearings disposed at the sides of the refuse pit. ment provides an upper receiving surface unobstructed by overlying hearings, or hearing caps, ordinarily required in grinders of this type, and permits a free passage of the refuse through the grinder mechanism into the ash pit.

A more detailed understanding of my in-- vention may be had from reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view, certain parts being shown in elevation, of a refuse pit constructed in accordance with my invention and employed in connection with a double-ended under-feed stoker; Fig. 2 illustrates'a modification of the construction illustrated in Fig, 1, showing the refuse discharge mechanism applied to a single stoker; Fig. 3 is a detailed view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a mechanism for operating the agit-ators; and Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate further lEI lfld111lCiltl0nS of the apparatus illustrated in In the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, I have designated at 10 an under-feed stoker comprising t uyere boxes11 supporting air tators 19, 20, stationary plate members 21,

delivering tu \;'eres 12 and a fuel dead plate 13. all of which structures are well known in this art and need nofurther description in relation to the present invention. The refuse pit is bounded by side walls 15. 16, and end walls at right angles thereto and substantially coinciding with the side walls of -the furnace structure. Theside walls 15. 16, comprise at their upper portions air boxes 1T. '18 and oscillating plate members or agi- 0-) and aprons 23, 24. arranged beneath the respective air boxes in the order named, The air boxes 17,18, are secured in any suitable manner to the tuycre boxc'sll. from which air under pressure is delivered through the registering openings 26. The inwardly exposed walls of the air boxes 17, 18, are

This arrangeprovided with 'tuyere openings'2T for the discharge of air into the refuse in the upper portion of the pit.

The oscillating plate members or agitators 19, 20, are each supported at one end from a shaft 30 which is in turn supported by hollow brackets ll preferably bolted to an I-beam 32 which also supports the lower ends of the tuyere boxes 11. The Wall 33 of the bracket 31 which lies adjacent to the I-beam 32 is spaced from the I-beam so as to permit the insertion of brick "or other suitable protecting material between the beam and the wall of the bracket. A supplemental bracket 35 is secured to an I-beam36, disposed below the I-beam 32 and is bolted to the bracket 31 in such manner as to sustain the load placed upon the latter bracket during periods of oscillation of the agitator.

The oscillating plate members or agitators 19, 20, as illustrated, are dead plates and are in appearance and structure similar to ordinary dump grates. In the position shown in the drawings, the agitators are in their normal open position and are inclined inwardly to direct the refuse onto the grinder mechanism hereinafter described. The normal upper or closed position of the agitators is approximately the horizontal position of these members but provision is made for raising the agitators slightly above the horizontal position. and further provision for securing or locking these members in any position found deskable, as hereinafter described.

A shield 38 .is secured to the lower edge of the oscillating plate member or agitator, that is, the edge remote from the axis of oscillation. This shield is arcuate in configuration and extends outwardly from the ash pit a suificient distance to insure a closure between the agitators 19, 20, and the plates 21. 22, in any position ofoseillathm of the agitators. g;

The operating mechanism for oscillat'ng the plate members or agitators 19 and 20 shown in the drawings (Fig. 3) represents one form of mechanism that may be utilized for this purpose and is herein described in detail merely by way of illustration. The shafts 30 with their agitators are separatelv oscillated by independent mechanisms,

- the extremities of the piston stroke.

is regulatedby a double, dash P013 48, having a valve-controlldlbfiipassf48',- and containing a piston-connected to the-valve mover by an extension piston rod 49.. Steam:

is admitted to reciprocate the'double piston 45 through ports 50, 51 controlled-by a slidevalve 52, operated" through-,a lever mechanism adapted to be detachably connected with a block 53 which is slidablyfmounted upon the main piston rod 54and soarranged-z as 'to be moved by the tappet fingers 55' at The lever mechanism comprises a lever 56 having a latch 57 which is adapted to engage a slot 53' in the block 53, the arrangement being such that the latch may be removed from engagement by grasping a handle 58 in a manner commonly employed in lever latches. The latch 57 may be held permanently from engaging position with the block 53 as by means of a ring 59 which is adapted to hold the latch. in its withdrawn position. The main piston rod 54 is connected to a cross head 60 carried by a guide member 61 and through a connecting rod 63 serve to transmit the'motion of the piston 41 to the crank arm 39 and agitator 19.

A look mechanism for holding the oscillating plate member or agitator 19in a desired raised position is also provided and may comprise a lever 64 pivoted at 65 to the guide 61 and carrying fingers 66 extending through vthe guide 61 and arranged to act as stops for the cross head 60. The lever 64 is held in its forward or retracted position by a sector retainer 67 of ordinary construction.

The ports 43 and 44 for admitting steam to opposite ends of the steam cylinder 40,-

are controlled by individual regulating valves 68, suitably arranged to control independently the speed of each stroke of the main piston 41 and consequently the speed of oscillation of the plate members or agitators 19, 20, in either direction. Similarly, the ports 50, 51, for admitting controlling fluid to the. opposite ends of the double-piston valve mover 45 are controlled by separate valves 69 which may be adjusted to govern the relative speeds of reciprocation of valve mover 45 in either direction so as to regulate the relative lengths of the periods which the agitator is held in its upper and in its lower position; These reg: ulating means, together with the regulable dash pot 48, enable the attendant to secure any operating characteristics of the oscillating agitators that maybe desired.

The stationary guide plates 21. 22 may be secured to brackets '70 which are bolted ;endsof the pistons of the or otherwise secured to the I-beams 36. The brackets 70 serve a as well. to support. the aprons 23, 24,. which'are constructed to swing atgtheir ends from a suitable bearing portion 71 of the bracket 70;. The apron s 23, 24, have 'theirlower ends adjustably supported bysuitable rods'72 which may extend to the ends of the furnace vso as to be readily accessible to the operator, in' a man-' ner commonly employed in this art.

Disposed at the bottomof'therefuse pit is a cylindrical grinder roll 8O which is preferably of uniform diameter throughout its length and to which are secured cutters -o'r teeth 81. The grinder roll is mounted '"on' a square steel shaft 82 which extends without the furnace and is provided with suitable, driving means (not shown) adapted to rotate the grinder roll in either direction as indicatedbythe duplex arrow.

The roll 80 as illustrated is supported at, points'intermediate its ends'by roller bearings 83 which are disposedvat' either side of the grinder roll in such manner as to be in rotational contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the -roll. The roller bearings 83 are carried by the'eastings 84, 85, which may be secured to a supporting I-beam 86 in any suitable manner. Guard members 87 are mounted upon the castings 84 in such manner 'as to overlie the roller bearings 83 in order to prevent large pieces of material from passing between the grinder roll and the roller bearings. The guards 87 have concave faces 88 conforming to and slightly spaced from the'grinde'r roll for the purpose of preventing the main grinder roll from being thrown out of position.

It is desirable to provide,-in the refuse pit above described, a means for delivering streams of cooling fluid, as, for example, water or steam, across the refuse pit, which means is preferably disposed immediately below that zone in the pit to which air is supplied from the air boxes 17 and 18. As shown, this is accomplished by injecting streams of cooling fluid into the pit by means of trausverse.pipes 90. disposed at opposite sides of the pit, and between the air boxes 17. 18 and the oscillating plate members or agitators 19, 20, respectively, in such manner as to be out of the path of travel of the refuse and at the same time 'sufiicieutly close thereto to permit the streams of cooling fluid delivered from the nozzles or apertures 91 in the transverse-pipes to contact with refuse acrossthe entire pit.-v The contact of the cooling fluicLwith the heated refuse results, in case Water is used, in the formation of st am in considerable quantities, which, in tu "u, may be in part disgociated into hydrogeii and oxygen. These gaseous fluids, passin upwardly through the burning refuse, assisficombustion and tend to prevent the formation of clinker masses. In addition,tlfe water cools the refuse prior .to its passage to'the "grinder and renders it more or less friable, thereby reducing the work of grinding. The excess Water draining down- 5 wardly over the agitators, guide plates,

aprons and grinder roll, serves to maintain these castings in a relatively 0001 condition.

Theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 2 is m practically identical with that described in relation to Fig. 1 and need not be' -described "in detail. It differs from the constructionalready described onlyin that the air box 26 at the rear of the furnace is supported a from the I-beam 32, is of lesser height, and

serves to support the bridgewall which rises upwardly therefrom as is necessary in a single-ended furnace.

The operation of the apparatus is evident from the foregoing description. In brief,

' combustion of the fuel is brou ht to a stage highcombustion efiiciency. -In the present Where most of the volatile and solid carbon.

of the fuel will have been burned out when the fuel reaches the extension plate 13. It

the refuse starts to form large clinker masses, enclosed in which is a considerable portion of solid combustible matter which must be burned in order to obtain a reasonably construction, the refuse in the upper portion of: the pit is supplied with air throughout a zone'of consi erable depth from the air M boxes 17, 18, in order that an ample supply of 'air'to-support a lively combustion in the upper portions .of the refuse pit may be available.'-

It is characteristic of .the refllse mechanism Y constructed in accordance with the present invention that the ,activecombustion in the 1 upperportion-of the pit is-assjsted-by the maintenance of the refuse therein in an open and loose condition, which condition can only obtain} where clinker masses are not permitted to form. The absence of large clinker formations in .the refuse pit furthermore presents" an. ideal condition for the ready disposal of the refuse by; the grinder mechanism. This condition-of the refuse is oh.- tained-vby the action-of the gaseous fluids which rise up through the burning .refuse,as

i he result offthe impingement of the water upon 't'lie highly heated refuse, aided bythe.

, meehan'cal' agitation of'the refuse in the upnerportionofthe pit.

The water delivered from the transverse pipes 90facross the pit impinges against the 'o-,f ;tlierefuse, thereby: utilizing some of the highly heated refuse;

, sociation of the steam,

tare, ,ofwater gas; The hydrogenand oxy-' gen eitherreunite 111 the upper'zone of the resulting in a copious "enera'tion of steam and in a partial dis-.

pit, or unitefwith the air supplied-through the air boxes 17, 18 and therarbon content The steam passing u is at thispoint that the fusible portion of as in the manufac-' heat of the refusein the lower portion of heat is "ordinarily wasted. through the burning refuse in the combustion zone-acts upon the refuse to decrease the adhesive properties of the lumps of the clinker-ash therein. Assisted by the mechanical agitation of the the pit, which refuse, produced by the intermittent oscillation of the platemembers or agitators19 and 20, the efiect of the steam is to prevent the formation ofclinker'masses, the presence of which in the clinker pit not oniyretards combustion therein by occluding solid combustible matter-and by interferingiwith the proper distribution of air through the burning refuse, but also clogs-thegrihder mechanism as clinkers thus formed pass down:

' wardly into the lowerportion of the pit.

The actuatlon of the agitators is preferably accomplished by mechanism inde endent of that utilized in the operation 0 the main Stoker driving mechanism. As illustrated, each agitator is operated by. a single ower cylinder 40 which is adapted to oscilate the agitator at periods which may be varied withinlimits sufficient to carei different conditions of operation. When t is desired to operate the oscillatin pla member or agitator 19, autgmatically an continuously, the latch 57. of the lever 56 is engaged in the slot 53' of the block 53. Inv

this position the lever 56 is moved at the end .of each piston stroke so as to control the admission of steam to the cylinder 40 in a manner common'in" devices of this char-" acter. The frequency of the reciprocation of the piston 41 may be regulated by the valve '48 of the dash pot 48 which controls mits the operation of the power cylinder and associated agitatorto be controlled by the attendant. \Vhenit is desired to hold the agitator in an elevated position, as in starting the'fire or in emptying the lower portion of the clinker pit, the lever 64 may be raised so that one ofthe fingers 66 may act as a stop for the cross head 60, thus holding'the agitator 19 in a fixed position.

It is to be understood, however, that the oscillating plate members or agitators 19, 20 should be operated at regular intervals during the normal operation of the furnace.

'lhe periodsat which it is necessary to operate the -.oscillating plate members or agitators depends upon the quantity of refuse to be haudledand' the character; of

the fuel, employ edg lt is theintent' that, with the present invention, the agitators .the latch 57 is withthe block 53 and should be oscillated at intervalssufliciently refuse pit so as to extinguish combustion and render the refuse more friable.

The oscillating plate members or agitators in their lower ornormal position serve as side walls of the pit and cooperate with the stationary plates 21, 22, and the aprons 23, 24, to direct the refuse-onto the grinder roll. 80. The grinder roll is designed to rotate in either direction and to crush the clinker in the refuse against either one of the aprons 23, 24. Theelimination of the usual bearings. over the rollpermits the the roll into the ash pit below. I

The modified constructions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 require less head room for the refuse pit than the constructions heretofore described, and may be advantageously emreason of special constructional or operational conditions, wouldibe undesirable. In these structures the upper portion of the refuse pit is identical with that already described and the relation of the air boxes 17, 18, pipes 90 and oscillating plate members or'agitators 19, 20, bear the same relation to the active grate 1:0, and to each other as set forth in the foregoing description of Fig. 1. The grinder roll 80 and its supporting members are also structurally the same. 7

In Fig. at, however, the stationary members 21, 22. and the aprons 23, 24, of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, are omitted, and the grinder roll 80 and its associated elements are placed contiguous to the oscillating plate members or agitators 19, 20, so that the refuse is discharged directly therefrom onto the grinder roll 80. Fixed plates 93, 94t. 'disposed beneath the oscillating plate members or agitators 19, 20, and spaced from the grinder roll 80, are provided to'ri'iffordabutments against which the refuse may be ground upon a rotation of the roller 80.

- The plates 93, 94, are secured to the I-beams 36 by means of suitable brackets 95.

In Fig. 5, a deeper pit is utilized more than in the construction illustrated in Fig. 4. The fixed plates 93, 94, are replaced by aprons 96, pivotally supported at their upper of the aprons are contiguous to the oscilrefuse to pass freelyonto the roll and from 'ployed where a deep-refuse pit, either by ends 98, 99, by brackets 70. The upper ends their lower ends are held by bars 72, which are designed .to permit adjustment of the aprons with respect to the grinder roll 80.

A refuse discharge mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention as described herein possesses many advantages over similar constructions now in use, principal among these beingtlie, hi h rate of combustion over the refus p1t which resultsv in greatly increasing the overall efliciency of the furnace and the elimination of clinker formation within the refuse pit, which greatly facilitates the ready removal of refuse to the ash dump.

The construction of the grinder mechanism disclosed by the present invention is also particularly advantageous for the reason that a larger roll. can be used without materially enlarging the clinker grinder it.

The construction of the roller for operation in either direction permits the ready grinding out of large clinkers, should any find their way into the lower portion of, the clinker pit. This may be accomplished by a repeated reversal of the grinder roll so as to force the clinker first against one apron and then the other, thus offering new gripping surfaces for the cutters of the grinder roll. Moreover, since the aprons are hinged f om their upper ends, one of the aprons ay be swung out to permit a large clinker to pass should this latter procedure be found necessary. Thev aprons are further more adjustable so. that the clearance between the aprons and the cutters may be.

varied to secure best operating conditions with any particular character, of refuse.

In addltion, it is possible to operate the furnace as a dump-grate stoker furnace by locking the agitators 19, 20, in their u per or-horizontal position. This is particu arly advantageous in starting combustion on the stoker when the pit is empty, since avalanching of the partly burned fuel into the-pitv is prevented in this way. When the furnace is in full operation, the oscillating plate members or agitators may be lowered to their normal position and grinder mechanism operated. Furthermore, it is possible, at any time, to raise the-agitators to their normal upper position andto empty the lowerportion of the pits so that adjustments and repairs thereto may be made without withdrawing thefire from the furnace.

The employment of the large si gle roll also permits the employment of I aterally disposed intermediate roller bearings. The

grinder roll supported in this'manner may be constructed of uniform diameter throughout its entire length and the trouble commonly encountered in the operation of V grinder rolls dueto the clinker hanging up- I on overlying intermediate bearings: is eliminated.

, \Vhile I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I-desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is i 1. In combination in an ash discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from theactive grate surface comprising means for distributing air to the refuse in an upper zone of the pit, and an oscillating agitator pivot-ed at one side of the pit' and disposed below the zoneof combustion for agitating the refuse in the upper zone of the pit, said agitator being high enough to operate with out disturbing the refuse in the bottom of the pit.

2. In combination in an ash discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising means for distributin air to the refuse in an upper zone of thepit, and an oscillating agitator pivoted at one. side of the pit and disposed below the zone of combustion for agitating the refuse in the a per zone of the pit, said agitator being hlgh enough to operate'with out disturbing the refuse in the bottom of pit, and means disposed in 'thelower portion gf the pit for discharging the refuse thererom.

3. In combination in an ash discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising means for distributing air to the refuse in an upper zone of the pit, a plate member pivoted at each side of the p1t below the zone of combustion, adapted to be oscillated upwardly to a position "above the plane of the axes of oscillation and downwardly to a position forming upwardly diverging side walls for directing the refuse into the'bottom of the pit.

4:. In combination in an ash discharge device f o r a progressive feed furnace, a

walls for directing the refuse into the bot-.v

tom of the pit, and means for locking said plate members in" differentlqpositions during periods when the said a'n'embers are not oscillating. Y Y

it adapted to receive refuse from the acti ve pit, a plate member pivoted at each of refuse which is not disturbed by the operation of the plate members. i

6. In combination in an ash discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an air box forming the upper portion of each side wall of the pit, a plate member pivoted at each side of the pit below each air box, and a power "actuated device for oscillating each plate member, including automatic means for controlling the power actuated device.

7. In combination in an ash discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an air box forming the upper portion of each side \vallof the pit, .a plate member pivoted at each side of the pit below each airbox, and a power J actuated device for oscillating each plate member, and both automatic and manual means for controlling the power actuated device.

8. In combination in an ash discharge dc; vice for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an air box forming the upper portion of each side wall of the pit, a plate member pivoted at each side of the pit below each air box, and a power actuated device for oscillating each plate member, including both automatic and manual means for controlling the power actuated device, and means whereby either the automatic or manual means may be made effective for said control. I

9. In combination in -"an ash discharge device for a progressive feed. furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from ,the active ther means for regulating the periods of oscillation. I a

10. In combination in an a'sh discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an airbox forming the upper portion of each side wall of the side of member including automatic means for controlling the power actuated device, and

means for regulating the 'relative speeds of the upward and downward movements of oscillation and the relative periods of rest in boththe upper and lower posit-iousof the said piate members;

11. In combination in an ash discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to, receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an air box forming the upper portion of each side wall ofthe pit,

' a plate member pivoted at each side of the pit below each air box, a power actuated device for oscillating each plate member, including automatic means for controlling the power actuated device and further means for regulating the periods of oscillation, and means for regulating the relative speeds ofthe upward and downward movements of osciilafion and the relative periods of rest in both the upper and lower positions of the said plate members.

12. In combination in an ash discharge devicefor a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface and including a plate mem-- her pivoted at one side of the pit, a power actuated device for oscillating said plate member including automatic means for controlling the" power actuated device, and means for regulating the relative speeds of the upward and downward movements of oscillation and the relative periods of. rest in both the upper and lower positions of said plate member.

13. In combination in an ash discharge device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted .to receive refuse 'from' the active grate surface and including a plate member pivoted at one side of the pit, a power actuated device for oscillating the plate member, including automatic means for control-v ling thepower actuated .device and further means for regulating the periods of oscillation, and means for regulating the relative speeds of the upward and downward movements of oscillation and the relative periods of rest in both upper and lower positions.

of said plate member.

14. In combination in an ash discharge;

device for a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising means for distributing air to the refuse in the upper portion of the pit, means disposed below the air distributing means for quenching combustion below the plane of the StIlCl air dis-- tributing members, and means disposed below thezone of combustion" for agitating the refuse in the upperportion of the pit w thout disturbing the-rcfuseg'in the. lower portion of" the pit.

t I I 1 5. In combination in an ash ihscharge (lVltO tor a progressive feed furnace, a pit adapted. to receive refuse from the active adapted to he oscillated upwardly to a posi;

tion above the plane of the axes of oscillation and downwardly to a position forming upwardly diverging side walls for directing the refuse .into the bottom of the pit.

16. In con'ibinationin an ash discharging device, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an air box forming the upper portion ofeach side wall of the pit, a plate member pivoted at each side of the pit below each air box, "adapted to be oscillated upwardly to a position above the lane of the axes of oscillation and downwardly to a position forming upwardly diverging side wallsfor directing the-refuse into the bottom of the pit, aprons beneath said plates, anda grinder mechanism to which the refuse is directed: by said aprons. I

17. In .combination in an ash discharging device, a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface' comprising an side wall of the pit, a transverse pipe disposed beneath each air box and arranged to discharge water into the. refuse, a plate member ateach side of the pit below each transverse pipe', adapted to be oscillated upwardly to a position a ove 'the plane of the axes of oscillation and downwardly to a position forn'iing upwardly diverging side walls for directing the refuse into the bottom of the pit, aprons beneath said plates, and a grinder mechanism to which the refuse is directed by saidaprons. I

18. In combination in an ash discharge device, a pit adapted to reteive refuse from the active grate surface comprising a deadl late member pivoted at each side of the pit iielow the zone of combustion, adapted to be oscillated upwardly to a positionabove the plane of the axes of oscillation and "downwardly to a position forming upwardl diverging side walls for directing the rjfuse into the bottom of the pit, aprons beneath said dead plates, each of the dead plates having an arcuate shield portion extending outwardly from the edge remote from the axis of oscillation, stationary plate arcuate.

im'i

lit

vice, a. pit adapted toreceive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an air box forming the upper portion of each side wall of the pit, a transverse pipe disposed beneath each air box and arranged to illscharge water .into the refuse, a dead plate member. at each side of the pit below each transverse pipe adapted to be oscillated upwardly to a position above the lane of the axes of oscillation and downwan 1y to a position forming upwardly diverging side walls for directing the refuse into the bottom of the pit, aprons beneath said dead plates, each of thedead plates having an arcuate shield a portion extending outwardly from the edge remote fronnthe axis of oscillation, stationary plate members disposed between the arcuate shields and the aprons so as toprethe pit during the oscillation of said plate, and a grinder mechanism to which the refuse is directed bynsaid apron.

22. In combination in an ash discharge device, a pit adapted to receive refuse from "the active grate surfage comprising an air box forming an upperc portion of a side wall of the pit, a transverse pipe'disposed beneath said air box and arranged to discharge water into the refuse, a plate memher at one side of the pit belowsa d transverse pipe adapted to be oscillated upwardly charge water into the refuse, a dead plate member at each side of the pit below each transverse pipe adapted to be oscillated'upwardly to a position above the plane of the axes of oscillation and downwardly to a osition forming upwardly diverging side walls for directing the refuse into the bottom of the pit, aprons beneath said dead plates, each of the dead plates having an arcuate shield portion extending. outwardly from the edge remote from the axis of oscillation, stationary plate membersdisposed between thc 'arci'iate shields and the aprons so as to prevent the'leakage of refuse from the pit during the oscillation of the dead plates, a grinder roll disposed atthe bottom of the pit, and a pair of roller bearings, one at each side of the grinder roll, arranged 'to supportthesaid roll at a point intermediate its ends and to permit unobstrueted feedingof refuse to the grinder roll. a v

In combination in an ash discharge device, a pit adapted toreceive refuse from .the active grate surface comprising a plate member pivoted at one side of the pit be-- low the zone of combustion, adapted to be oscillated upwardly to a position above the horizontal plane of the axis ofoseillation and downwardly to a position forminga side wall for directing the refuse into the bottom of, the 'pit,,an apron beneath said plate, said" plate having an arcuate shield portion extending outwardly from the edge remote from the ,axis of oscillation, 'astationary guide plate member disposed between the arcuate shield' and said apron to a position above the horizontal plane of the axis-ofoscillatiod and downwardly to a position forming-a side wall for directing the refuse into the bottom of the pit,

srt asto prevent the leakage of ref use from an apron beneath said plate, said plate havv ing an arcuate shield portion extending outwardly from the edge remotefrom the axis of oscillation, a stationary guide plate member disposed between the arcuate shield and apron so as to prevent the leakage of refuse from the pit during the oscillation of said plate, and a grinder mechanism to which the refuse is directed by said apron In combination in an ash discharge (l(VlC,' a pit adapted to receive refuse from the active grate surface comprising an air bix forming an upper "portlon of a side whll of the pit, a transverse pipe disposed beneath the air box and arranged to dis charge water into the refuse, a plate member at one side of the pit below said transverse pipe adapted to be oscillated upwardly to a position above-the horizontal plane of the axis of oscillation and downwardly to a position forming a side wall for directing the refuse into the bottom ofthe pit, an apron beneath said plate, said plate having an arcuate shield portion extending outwardly from the edge remote from the axis of oscillation, a stationary guide plate member disposed between the arcuate shield-and the apron so as to prevent the leakage of refuse from the pit during the oscillation Ill? of said plate, a grinder roll disposed at the bottom of the. pit, and a roller bearing,

discharge water into the refuse immediately below the zone of active combustion, and

plate members below the water e]ecting I means adapted tobe oscillated upwardly to a position above the plane of the axes Of liOSClllfllllOll and downwardly to ajf position 1 forming upwardly diverging side walls for directing the refuse toward the bottom of the pit, whereby agitation of the burning ,refuse and the intimate contact therewith of steam resulting from impingement of water upon the heated refuse produce a condltlon 0f the refuse \vlthln the zone of combustion which is not conducireto the for- 4 mution of clinker masses.

In testnnony whereof, I have hercu nto 10 subscribed my name this second day of November, 1921.

ROBERT A. F'ORES'MAN. 

